Coleus plant named UF12-35-9

ABSTRACT

‘UF12-35-9’ is a new coleus plant distinguished by having consistent bronze-orange leaves with a purple midvein, novel growth habit, and desirable late-flowering characteristics, as disclosed.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Plectranthus scutellariodes

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘UF12-35-9’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of coleus plant named ‘UF12-35-9’. ‘UF12-35-9’ originated from an open pollination conducted in May-November 2011 in Gainesville, Fla. between the female coleus plant ‘UF10-48-2’ (unpatented) and an unknown male coleus plant. A single seedling was chosen in May 2012 for further asexual propagation in Gainesville, Fla. (see FIG. 1 for pedigree).

‘UF12-35-9’ has been reproduced asexually for over one year through vegetative cuttings and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

‘UF12-35-9’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

When ‘UF12-35-9’ is compared to the female parent ‘UF11-1-1’ (unpatented), ‘UF12-35-9’ has bright bronze-orange leaves with distinct purple midveins and yellow stems, while ‘UF11-1-1’ had leaves colored dark orange-red with gold banding around the edges. ‘UF11-1-1’ was eliminated from the UF breeding program in 2012 and is no longer in existence.

When ‘UF12-35-9’ is compared to the commercial cultivar Keystone Kopper™ ‘UF09-08-87’ (commercial, unpatented), both plants have a striking orange foliage color but ‘UF12-35-9’ has a lighter orange tone, which makes its purple midveins more contrasting than Keystone Kopper™ ‘UF09-08-87’. ‘UF12-35-9’ also has a more vigorous upright growth habit with more lateral branching and larger leaves than Keystone Kopper™ ‘UF09-08-87’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘UF12-35-9’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Gainesville, Fla. ‘UF12-35-9’ has a combination of novel vigorous upright growth habit, late season flowering, excellent heat tolerance, and consistent, deep bronze-orange leaves with distinct purple midveins and light green stems that are significantly different than other coleus plants. It has superior color stability in foliage in both sun and shade conditions, maintaining stable color in all conditions. It has a vigorous upright spreading growth habit with excellent lateral branching when grown as a stock plant, thus providing ample vegetative propagules for producers. This plant has not been observed to set a significant number of flowers in any trial to date, thus it is desirable for long-season performance in the landscape, as coleus plants that set seed usually experience late season leaf drop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new coleus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the plant's form and foliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken from 3-month-old plants grown from cuttings in 1-gallon pots during December 2012-March 2013 in greenhouses in Gainesville, Fla.

FIG. 1—shows the pedigree of the claimed plant.

FIG. 2—shows the growth habit, form, and foliage of the claimed plant.

FIG. 3—shows a close-up of the foliage.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘UF12-35-9’. The detailed description was obtained using 3-month-old plants from cuttings growing in a glass greenhouse in Gainesville, Fla. in early spring 2013. The plants were pinched 2 weeks after cuttings were rooted, then grown in 1-gallon pots for approximately 10 weeks. Color references are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2007 5th Edition.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Lamiaceae.         -   Botanical.—Plectranthus scutellariodes.         -   Common name.—Coleus.         -   Cultivar name.—‘UF12-35-9’. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Spreading.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Height (from top of soil).—37 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—62 cm. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cuttings.—Vegetative meristems having at least 1 node.         -   Time to initiate roots.—3-4 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—7-10 days.         -   Root habit.—Fibrous.         -   Root description.—Callus forms in 2 to 3 days, roots             initiate in 3-4 days and become a highly branched cutting in             7-10 days. -   Branches:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—6 main branches per plant with numerous             side branches, pinched once.         -   Branch color.—RHS 145B.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Non-descript.         -   Stem description.—Square-shaped stem, 1.5 cm in diameter at             the soil line.         -   Branch diameter.—0.7 cm at the base of a 29-cm long branch.         -   Branch length.—29 cm.         -   Internode length.—3-5 cm.         -   Anthocyanin.—N/A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Quantity of leaves per branch.—15 to 17 Arrangement:             Opposite.         -   Fragrance.—Not fragrant.         -   Shape.—Deltoid, consistent.         -   Length.—12-14 cm.         -   Width.—10-12 cm.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Sinuate.         -   Leaf texture (both surfaces).—Slightly pubescent upper             surface; smooth lower surface.         -   Pubescence color (both surfaces).—Non-descript with naked             eye.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N79A Lower surface: RHS             156B.         -   Venation pattern.—Upper surface: Reticulate Lower surface:             Reticulate.         -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 171A Lower surface:             RHS 59B.         -   Color.—Mature leaf: Upper surface: RHS N170A Lower surface:             59A.         -   Petiole length.—3-6 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—0.2-0.3 cm.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 145C. -   Flowers and seeds: Flowers and seeds have not been observed. -   Fruit/seed set: No fruit/seed observed -   Disease and insect resistance: Disease and insect resistance is     typical of the species, thus no claims are made of any superior     disease or insect resistance with this cultivar. The most common     insect pests observed on this plant in Gainesville, Fla. have been     long-tailed or citrus mealybugs (Pseudococcus sp.), which occur on     older stock plant material held in the greenhouse for over 3-4     months. Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (Bunyaviridae) has also been     observed in plants confined in greenhouses with mixed crops     (peppers) infected with Western flower thrips (Frankliniella     occidentalis). The most common pathogen of this species in the US is     downy mildew (Pernonspora lamii). This pathogen has been observed in     stock materials grown closely together in cooler growing seasons. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Plectranthus scutellariodes called ‘UF12-35-9’ as shown and described herein. 